Top 5 Halloween Haunts

It’s almost Halloween and despite Covid I am super excited! Usually I would be handing out candy to trick or treaters with a my lovely cloak on, but this year my plan is involves watching spooky stuff on Netflix and eating tiny Halloween chocolate bars that I bought for myself. I’m an adult with adult money. I do what I want. It’s a great time to have a cozy evening in, but it’s also an awesome time to plan your Post-Covid getaway, which is what I’ve been doing pretty much since the first lockdown.

For the past few days my thoughts have centered around October, fall colours, and spooky places, so I thought I’d put together a list of places that I would love to see around this time of year. I’ve been to a few haunting and haunted spots before, including the Clava Cairns, Fort Amherst, and the Tower of London just to name a few, but this to-visit list is centered a bit closer to home. Hopefully by next Halloween there will be a distinct lack of Covid, and all of these awesome places will accept visitors!

#1. Connecticut

Yes, the entire state of Connecticut. It’s said to be a ghost hunter’s paradise, which is completely understandable given it’s violent history. If you’re looking for a spooky Halloween post-Covid getaway, this is the place for you. It’s also the place for foliage lovers as the lower latitude enables more deciduous tree growth. What does that mean? More oaks, maples, and birches with leaves that turn to coppers, reds, yellows, and all the shades in between! Perfect for cuddling up by a fire with some hot apple cider and telling a scary story or two.

#2. Danvers, Massachusetts

There are a lot of misconceptions about the Salem Witch Trials and but its location is probably the biggest. The with trials occurred in what was originally known as Salem Village, which was a short way away from Salem Town. Salem Village is now known as Danvers. A lot of the tourism centered around this period in history is located in modern day Salem, but one day I would like to visit the true town, pay my respects, and learn about what I would consider the most well known but the most misunderstood incident of mass hysteria in the United States.

#3. Adams, Tennessee

No, not the Addams Family. Adams is a probably the most famous town you’ve never heard of. You’re likely more familiar with the story of the Bell Witch, and Adams happens to be the nearest modern town to where these events took place. The poltergeist began haunting the Bell family in 1817, and soon after the death of the patriarch, John Bell, in 1821, the witch moved to a nearby cave where it continues to this day. I don’t think I’m brave enough to visit the cave but I would love to see the town and the surroundings where the haunting took place.

#4. Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Yes! Sleepy Hollow is real! If you’ve not read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, I can assure you it’s easy, short, and an awesome way to spend an afternoon! Although the story is fictional it is based on local legends of ghosts and hauntings, and the area around Sleepy Hollow is known for having a bit of an eerie atmosphere even at the best of times.

#5. Manhattan, New York.

A visit to New York would be fabulous at any time of year, but there’s something about going in the fall that makes it even more special. I imagine Central Park would be aflame with russet leaves, and the cool air would be perfect for carrying around a cup of something warm while walking through the historic neighbourhoods. I’m really looking forward to the end of Covid so that I can make this dream of mine come true!

Of course these places are mostly in and around New England in the United States, but there are so many more awesome places that I want to check out! Let me know in the comments what your favourite fall places are!